Please end this traffic blight (From Gazette & Herald)

Please end this traffic blight

TRANSPORT minister Dr David Ladyman is to be urged to visit Malton to carry out a fact-finding study of the damage being caused to the town by the continuous convoys of heavy vehicles.

Many historic buildings are at risk because of the high volume of traffic thundering through the narrow streets, say experts.

Traffic congestion is not only threatening the town's economic revival and putting pedestrians at risk, but also having a damaging effect on many of its listed buildings, said Ryedale District Council's buildings conservation officer, Emma Woodland and stonemason and consultant, Nigel Copsey.

They have added their support to the Junctions Action Group's efforts to upgrade junctions on the A64 in Malton and Norton because of the problems caused by traffic pollution.

They told the group that because of the combination of the volume of traffic and long, slow moving queues through Malton, the point had now been reached where the fabric of Malton's Georgian architecture was "under serious attack".

"Without improved access to and from the A64, buildings in Malton will continue to discolour and decay. Most stone buildings are suffering adverse effects from vehicle-related pollution," said Mr Copsey.

He added: "For many, the effects are highly visible with soiling and discolouration from deposited carbon particles of fine soot. Others are under threat from pollution causing structural damage."

The key problem areas are Yorkersgate, Castlegate and Wheelgate, where the facades of the buildings are "universally dirty, soiled by deposits in exhaust fumes especially diesel particulates from HGVs'', said Mr Copsey. "The level and progress of damage depends on the geology of the stone used, with buildings in Malton built mainly of brick, sandstone and two types of limestone."

Brickwork dates back to the early medieval period. "The older the bricks, the softer many of them tend to be and the more vulnerable therefore to decay, caused by airborne carbon particles from exhaust fumes."

Exhaust gases, carbon and salt used on the roads in winter are having a major effect on the lower level of buildings, while at higher levels there is also decay caused by soots leading to gymsum, which gets on to the face of limestone blocks causing the stone to disintegrate. ''Malton has a rich stock of medieval and later buildings. But the damage caused by traffic pollution to two of the towns' most architecturally-significant buildings is extremely worrying," he said.

The exterior wall of The Old Lodge Hotel in Old Maltongate had thick sulphation crusts in many places, said Mr Copsey, which would add to the process of decay.

The Vanbrugh Arch in Yorkersgate is also heavily soiled with the crusts and has suffered significant decay.

"It is clear that the current levels of vehicle traffic in Malton are doing quantifiable damage to the historic fabric of its environment. Without change, the damage will continue."

It is vital that the volume of HGV traffic in particular is reduced and traffic flows improved, Ms Woodland said..

She added: ''Not only is traffic causing structural damage and decay to the buildings of Malton, it is compromising the public's enjoyment of them. Pedestrians are often busy watching the traffic and minding their safety rather than appreciating the fine architecture of many of Malton's buildings."

Ms Woodland added that Yorkersgate had nearly 40 listed buildings, some dating back to the 1600s.

Coun Lindsay Burr, chairman of Ryedale District Council, and chairman of the group, said she was hopeful that Dr Ladyman would make a visit. "He will be able to see for himself the damage which is being caused.''

Coun Burr said the group was working with the Highways Agency and Ryedale MP John Greenway to help to bring about improvements to the junctions at each end of the Malton bypass. ''The group is proving to have an influence in our quest to make something happen,'' she said.

''The views of Mr Copsey and Ms Woodland put a new dimension on our campaign. Their findings are alarming and prove that something must be done to alleviate the traffic crisis in Malton and Norton."

Updated: 11:11 Wednesday, March 22, 2006